Helping people keep talking
ALSChat is a free, browser-based communication board built for people whose speech or fine motor control has been affected by ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and similar conditions.
Why we built it
ALS gradually weakens the muscles used for speech and movement, but it doesn't take away what someone has to say. Many commercial AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices are expensive, require special hardware, or take weeks to arrive after a diagnosis that is often moving very fast. ALSChat exists to close that gap: it runs in any web browser, on a phone, tablet, or laptop a family already owns, and it is free to use.
How ALSChat works
Instead of a traditional keyboard, which can be difficult to use with limited hand strength or fine motor control, ALSChat arranges letters into five large circles around a central "wheel." A user selects a circle to reveal the individual letters or characters inside it, then picks the one they want. Full words and sentences build up letter by letter, exactly like a phone keypad but designed for large, easy-to-hit targets.
Two ways to select
Tap or click directly for anyone who still has reliable hand or stylus control. Or switch on auto-scan mode, which highlights each circle in turn on a timer — the user confirms a selection with a single click, tap, spacebar press, or an adapted switch, so no fine motor precision is required at all.
12 languages, one layout
The same circular layout adapts to Korean (with full 자음/모음 syllable composition), English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, German, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese (Pinyin), and Hindi — so the same device can serve a multilingual household or care team.
Quick phrases & word prediction
Common phrases like "thank you" or "I need help" are one tap away, and the board suggests likely words and follow-up phrases as a sentence is typed, cutting down the number of selections needed for everyday communication.
Spoken output & history
Finished text can be read aloud using the device's built-in text-to-speech, and previously spoken phrases are saved locally so frequently repeated messages are easy to find again.
Who it's for
ALSChat is designed primarily for people living with ALS, but the same circular, scan-friendly layout can help anyone with a condition that limits speech or fine motor control, including other motor neuron diseases, cerebral palsy, or recovery from a stroke. It's also built with caregivers and family members in mind, who are often the ones setting up a device for a loved one under time pressure.
What ALSChat is not
ALSChat is a communication aid, not a medical device and not a substitute for a full clinical AAC evaluation. Speech-language pathologists can assess eye-gaze hardware, switch access, and mounting solutions tailored to how a specific person's condition progresses — we'd always encourage getting that evaluation in parallel with trying a free tool like this one.
Try it right now
No installation, no account, and no cost. Pick a language and start typing.
Open the letter board